Lauren Klopfenstein (Caren West PR)
Bumping a few hip-hop artists up into headline spots this year, Euphoria Fest, the dance music fest that’s been steadily growing on the far east side of town has evolved into one of the region’s premiere youth culture fests. The lineup presents a diverse and well-curated selection of sounds to make you move and groove.
A few highlights:
FRIDAY
Pretty Lights live: Hip-hop oriented electronic artist crafts rich, sample-oriented compositions. For this tour, he’ll be fleshing the songs out with a live band. Midnight, Euphoria Stage.
FKJ: The self-titled debut from the Parisian house specialist French Kiwi Juice (FKJ) is a warm and lovely platter of soulful R&B fusion that’s not afraid to drop a slow jam in the dance club. 11 p.m., Dragonfly Amphitheater.
Sip Sip/Magna Carda/Eric Dingus: The afternoon acts in the Dragonfly Amphitheater showcase a broad selection of of the best of Austin music. Sip Sip brings big band antics, huge grooves and sharp rhymes. Former Austin360 Artists of the Month, Magna Carda have a live show that started 2016 very good and started this year straight fire. And Drake collaborator Eric Dingus is one of the scene’s rising stars. 3:25 p.m./4:50 p.m./6:05 p.m.
SATURDAY
Young Thug: Swedish EDM artist Alesso is the big name, who closes the night on the Euphoria Stage but gender-bending trap romantic Young Thug is also a big draw. Last year, he dropped a breakneck 40 minutes of soaring — commercially booming — Atlanta rap music, salvaging an otherwise soggy day at the inaugural SOS Fest. 12:45 a.m. Elements stage.
Capyac: Saturday’s bill also mixes in Dutch DJ Oliver Heldens and rapper Post Malone, but we recommend showing up early to sweat it out with the glitzy electrofunk of Austin/L.A.-based duo Capyac. 4;30 p.m. Euphoria Stage.
SUNDAY
Wiz Khalifa. The blunted rapper whose anthemic track “Young, Wild & Free” might as well be our city’s theme song, closes the fest out on the big stage. Incidentally, Wiz appears on a new Young Thug song that just dropped last week which does not necessarily mean we can expect a surprise appearance, but it also doesn’t preclude it. 10:30 p.m., Euphoria Stage.
Chromeo: Say what you will, these dudes ran a clinic on how to throw a dance party at Austin City Limits Festival a few years back. And if Canadian electro duos are your thing, you can slide over to the Elements Stage when their set ends to catch Zeds Dead. 8:15 p.m. Euphoria Stage.
Chronixx & Zinc Fence Redemption. Afternoon irie vibes from a reggae superstar? Yes, please. 6:15 p.m. Euphoria Stage.
If you go: $79 daily, $199 3-day (advance). Camping passes and VIP options are available. Gates at 2 p.m. Friday, noon Saturday-Sunday. Parking is $20 daily, cash only. Various shuttle options are available. See euphoriafest.com for more details.
